System and method for generating dynamic manufacturing process sequences

Abstract

A method includes defining a manufacturing transformation for a mobile workpiece based on mobile workpiece state information of the mobile workpiece, where the manufacturing transformation is an automated operation to be performed on the mobile workpiece. The method includes selecting a set of one or more manufacturing systems from among the one or more manufacturing systems for the mobile workpiece based on the manufacturing transformation and manufacturing system state information associated with the one or more manufacturing systems, where the manufacturing system state information provides data related to at least one of availability, capability, and constraints of the of the one or more manufacturing systems. The method includes defining manufacturing process steps of the manufacturing transformation based on the set of one or more manufacturing systems. The method includes defining a location for performing the manufacturing process steps on the mobile workpiece.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 defining a manufacturing transformation for a workpiece based on workpiece state information of the workpiece, wherein the manufacturing transformation is an automated operation to be performed on the workpiece, and wherein the workpiece is disposed on a moveable fixture; 
 selecting a set of one or more manufacturing systems from among the one or more manufacturing systems for the workpiece based on the manufacturing transformation and manufacturing system state information associated with the one or more manufacturing systems, wherein the manufacturing system state information provides data related to at least one of availability, capability, and constraints of the of the one or more manufacturing systems; 
 defining manufacturing process steps of the manufacturing transformation based on the set of one or more manufacturing systems; 
 defining a location for performing the manufacturing process steps on the workpiece based on sensor data obtained from one or more operational areas associated with the manufacturing process steps; and 
 broadcasting a command to the set of one or more manufacturing systems and the moveable fixture to autonomously travel to the location. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the workpiece state information includes a part type, quality data associated with the workpiece, inspection data associated with the workpiece, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more manufacturing system include a mobile machine, a mobile inspection system, a mobile robot, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the manufacturing system state information includes:
 for the mobile machine, machine data that includes identification information of the mobile machine, physical parameters of the mobile machine, operational capabilities of the mobile machine, operational constraints of the mobile machine, an availability of the mobile machine, or a combination thereof; 
 for the mobile inspection system, inspection system data that includes identification information of the mobile inspection system, physical parameters of the mobile inspection system, operational capabilities of the mobile inspection system, operational constraints of the mobile inspection system, an availability of the inspection system, or a combination thereof; and 
 for the mobile robot, robot data that includes identification information of the mobile robot, physical parameters of the mobile robot, operational capabilities of the mobile robot, operational constraints of the mobile robot, an availability of the mobile robot, or a combination thereof. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein for each manufacturing system of the set of one or more manufacturing systems, a set of manufacturing process steps is defined based on a time in which a respective manufacturing system is available, wherein the time in which the respective manufacturing system is available is based on the manufacturing system state information. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  further comprising, for each manufacturing system of the set of one or more manufacturing systems, broadcasting the set of manufacturing process steps to the respective manufacturing system. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  further comprising remotely controlling an operation of the set of one or more manufacturing systems to autonomously travel to the defined location based on infrastructure sensor obtained from one or more infrastructure sensors. 
     
     
       8. A method comprising:
 defining a manufacturing transformation for a workpiece based on workpiece state information of the workpiece, wherein the manufacturing transformation is an automated operation to be performed on the workpiece; 
 selecting a set of one or more manufacturing systems from among the one or more manufacturing systems for the workpiece based on the manufacturing transformation and manufacturing system state information associated with the one or more manufacturing systems, wherein the manufacturing system state information provides data related to at least one of availability, capability, and constraints of the of the one or more manufacturing systems, and wherein the one or more manufacturing systems include a mobile machine, a mobile inspection system, a mobile robot, or a combination thereof; 
 defining manufacturing process steps of the manufacturing transformation based on the one or more manufacturing systems; 
 defining a time and a location for performing the manufacturing process steps on the workpiece based on sensor data obtained from one or more operational areas associated with the manufacturing process steps; and 
 broadcasting a command to the set of one or more manufacturing systems and the moveable fixture to autonomously travel to the location at the time. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the workpiece state information includes a part type, quality data associated with the workpiece, inspection data associated with the workpiece, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the manufacturing system state information includes machine data associated with the mobile machine, inspection system data associated with the mobile inspection system, and robot data associated with the mobile robot. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the manufacturing system state information includes:
 for the mobile machine, machine data that includes identification information of the mobile machine, physical parameters of the mobile machine, operational capabilities of the mobile machine, operational constraints of the mobile machine, an availability of the mobile machine, or a combination thereof; 
 for the mobile inspection system, inspection system data that includes identification information of the mobile inspection system, physical parameters of the mobile inspection system, operational capabilities of the mobile inspection system, operational constraints of the mobile inspection system, an availability of the inspection system, or a combination thereof; and 
 for the mobile robot, robot data that includes identification information of the mobile robot, physical parameters of the mobile robot, operational capabilities of the mobile robot, operational constraints of the mobile robot, an availability of the mobile robot, or a combination thereof. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , wherein for each manufacturing system of the set of one or more manufacturing systems, a set of manufacturing process steps is defined based on the time in which a respective manufacturing system is available, wherein the time in which the respective manufacturing system is available is based on the manufacturing system state information. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  further comprising, for each manufacturing system of the set of one or more manufacturing systems, broadcasting the set of manufacturing process steps to the respective manufacturing system. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8  further comprising remotely controlling an operation of the set of one or more manufacturing systems to autonomously travel to the defined location based on infrastructure sensor obtained from one or more infrastructure sensors. 
     
     
       15. A system comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a nontransitory computer-readable medium including instructions that are executable by the processor, wherein the instructions include:
 defining a manufacturing transformation for a workpiece based on workpiece state information of the workpiece, wherein the manufacturing transformation is an automated operation to be performed on the workpiece; 
 selecting a set of one or more manufacturing systems from among the one or more manufacturing systems for the workpiece based on the manufacturing transformation and manufacturing system state information associated with the one or more manufacturing systems, wherein the manufacturing system state information provides data related to at least one of availability, capability, and constraints of the of the one or more manufacturing systems; 
 defining manufacturing process steps of the manufacturing transformation based on the set of one or more manufacturing systems; 
 defining a location for performing the manufacturing process steps on the workpiece based on sensor data obtained from one or more operational areas associated with the manufacturing process steps; and 
 broadcasting a command to the set of one or more manufacturing systems and the moveable fixture to autonomously travel to the location. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the workpiece state information includes a part type, quality data associated with the workpiece, inspection data associated with the workpiece, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more manufacturing system include a mobile machine, a mobile inspection system, a mobile robot, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the manufacturing system state information includes:
 for the mobile machine, machine data that includes identification information of the mobile machine, physical parameters of the mobile machine, operational capabilities of the mobile machine, operational constraints of the mobile machine, an availability of the mobile machine, or a combination thereof; 
 for the mobile inspection system, inspection system data that includes identification information of the mobile inspection system, physical parameters of the mobile inspection system, operational capabilities of the mobile inspection system, operational constraints of the mobile inspection system, an availability of the inspection system, or a combination thereof; and 
 for the mobile robot, robot data that includes identification information of the mobile robot, physical parameters of the mobile robot, operational capabilities of the mobile robot, operational constraints of the mobile robot, an availability of the mobile robot, or a combination thereof.